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A Rose for Sharon

    For many years now, I have posted the single pink rose image to my social media on August 19th and June 4th. Those who know me well know it is in honor of my little sister, Sharon, who died in 1994. Her birth date and her death date. That has been the extent of my communication about my sister or her life since. Thirty-two years is a long time to hold onto words. I have considered writing about her. It doesn't matter how deep my feelings are for her or how much I cherish her memory, the words don't come easily, if at all. Words feel cheap and wrong. It's hard to even describe why. Maybe it is because she was our family's: Our sister, our cousin, our niece, our daughter. We knew her best, so no one else should have the right to know about her like we did. Maybe that's why I hold onto my words. But I realize that if I don't tell her story, who will?  I have spent hour upon hour researching my long-gone ancestors, yet I haven't written about my own sister. ...
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GENEALOGY CHALLENGE 2021 - Immigration Record





GENEALOGY CHALLENGE 2021

Immigration Record - January 11th entry of a 31-day challenge to post a document, photo or artifact on social media every day in January. 

by Nancy Gilbride Casey  


Immigration journeys do not necessarily cover a long distance or cross over oceans as one most frequently imagines. One can also simply cross over a nearby border for any number of reasons. 

Such was the case for Edward Joseph Baker (1886-1961, above), my great grandfather, who crossed from Ontario, Canada at Niagara Falls, New York. He was on his way to Cleveland, Ohio to look for work in February 1910. 


This document, the "List or Manifest of Alien Passengers Applying for Admission to the United States from Foreign Contiguous Territory," gives all the details of Edward's border crossing, as well as interesting personal details, such as his appearance:1


  • He was 23 years old, married, and could read and write. 
  • He was Canadian, of German descent, and listed his occupation as an iron moulder.2
  • His last residence was Port Dalhousie in Ontario. 
  • He lists his father Joseph Baker as his nearest relative in Canada. 
  • Edward lists his final destination as Cleveland, Ohio. 
  • He paid for his passage himself, and notes that he has $114 with him for the journey. 
  • Interestingly, in answer to the question "to which relative or friend you are going?" and their address, he lists "no address." He may not have known anyone in Cleveland, and apparently had no where to stay. 
  • He describes himself as 5' 9-1/2" tall, with a dark complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.

An accompanying individual card (Form 548B), indicates that this is Edward's first time in the United States, and spells out his reason for coming: to look for work. The reverse notes that apparently his health exam was waived and that he was admitted to the U.S.3



Edward's quest for work was successful; by April 1910, he and his wife Catherine (Cassidy), and their son Charles were living on W. 11th Street in Cleveland. His occupation? "Molder" in a "foundry."4

 

NEXT UP: Interesting Letter


1 Manifests of Passengers Arriving at St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954, Port of Niagara Falls, sheet 17-18, line 15, Edward Baker, arriving Niagara Falls, 23 Feb. 1910; digital image "Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1075/images/m1464_118-0248 : accessed 10 January 2021), image 248/784; citing Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004, Record Group Number: 85, Roll 118, NARA, Washington, D.C.
2 Wikipedia, "Molding," (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldmaker#:~:text=From%20Wikipedia%2C%20the%20free%20encyclopedia,as%20aluminium%20and%20cast%20iron. : accessed 11 Jan. 2021); last updated 10 January 2021, at 07:26 (UTC). "A moldmaker (mouldmaker in British English), or molder is a skilled tradesperson who fabricates moulds for use in casting metal products. Moldmakers are generally employed in foundries, where molds are used to cast products from metals such as aluminium and cast iron."
3 Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Buffalo, Lewiston, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, New York, 1902-1954, Form 548-B, Edward Baker, arriving Niagara Falls, 23 Feb. 1910; digital image "Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960," Ancestry  (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1075/images/m1464_118-0248 : accessed 10 January 2021), image 1800-1801/5223; citing Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004, Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: M1480, Roll Number: 009 National Archives, Washington D.C
4 1910 United States Census, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, sheet 3-B (penned), Supervisor District 19, ED 125, Cleveland City, 6th Ward, Line 87, house 3115 W. 11th Street., household 58, family 78, Edward J. Baker, age 23 ; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449824_00881 : accessed 11 January 2021) image 6/29; citing FHL film 1375181.



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